Research Methods and Statistics in Criminal Justice : An Introduction

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Formerly a Nelson Hall title, this comprehensive introduction to the basics of criminal justice research introduces simple research methodologies and gradually advances to more complicated ones. The book describes elementary descriptive and inferential statistics, demonstrates research techniques, and examines the various scientific perspectives used in research today. This approach encourages readers to think critically about the research they will encounter in their studies as well as think about ways they can conduct their own research.

Preface

xi

Research and Criminal Justice

1

(29)

Research in Everyday Life

3

(1)

Criminal Investigation and Scientific Research

4

(1)

Basic and Applied Research

5

(1)

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

6

(6)

Evaluation Research

12

(3)

Prediction Research

15

(3)

In-House, Hired-Hand, and Third-Party Research

18

(3)

Research in Criminal Justice: An Illustration

21

(5)

Review Questions

26

(1)

Exercises

27

(1)

Notes

28

(2)

Perspectives and Research

30

(32)

What Is a Perspective?

30

(4)

Different Kinds of Language

34

(2)

Principles of a Scientific Perspective

36

(6)

Empiricism

36

(1)

Objectivity

37

(2)

Tentativeness

39

(1)

Skepticism

40

(1)

Ethical Neutrality

40

(1)

Parsimony

40

(1)

Determinism

40

(1)

Publication

41

(1)

Replication

42

(1)

Social Science as Science

42

(2)

An Example of a Social Science Perspective: Symbolic Interactionism

44

(2)

Other Perspectives in Criminal Justice Studies

46

(1)

Theory

47

(1)

Scope

47

(1)

Integration

47

(1)

Verification

47

(1)

Relationships Among Theory, Research, and Methodology

48

(1)

Research Ethics

48

(6)

Anonymity and Confidentiality

49

(1)

Risk and Voluntary Informed Consent

50

(1)

Deception in Research

51

(1)

Sharing Results and Benefits with Research Participants

51

(1)

Research Ethics and Other Standards of Fairness

52

(1)

Responsibility to Scientific Community

53

(1)

Current Critiques of the Scientific Perspective

54

(4)

Review Questions

58

(1)

Exercises

58

(1)

Notes

59

(3)

An Introduction to Research Methodology and Design

62

(31)

Choosing a Research Topic

63

(1)

Identifying Units of Analysis

64

(1)

Defining Concepts and Variables

65

(1)

Types of Definitions

65

(1)

Variables

66

(1)

Validity, Reliability, and Precision in Categorizations and Measurements

66

(2)

Validity

67

(1)

Reliability

67

(1)

Precision

68

(1)

Choosing a Research Design

68

(20)

Exploratory Research

69

(1)

Descriptive Research

69

(4)

Explantatory Research

73

(6)

Internal and External Threats to the Validity of Research Results

79

(9)

Triangulation

88

(1)

A Final Note About the Research Process

88

(2)

Review Questions

90

(1)

Exercises

90

(1)

Notes

91

(2)

Sampling

93

(15)

Probability Sampling

94

(7)

Random Sampling

96

(1)

Stratified Random Sampling and Proportionate Sampling

97

(1)

Disproportionate Sampling

97

(2)

Systematic Sampling

99

(1)

Cluster Sampling

99

(1)

Multistage Sampling

100

(1)

Nonprobability Sampling

101

(4)

Sample Size

105

(1)

Determining the Population to Be Sampled

105

(1)

Review Questions

106

(1)

Exercises

106

(1)

Notes

107

(1)

Research Tools and Techniques: Survey Research Through Questionnaires and Interviews